January, 1908 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



XIX 



while stunting the tree growth, failed to 

 produce the pale color of the leaves, probably, 

 as the authors point out, on account of the 

 increased amount of nitrates accompanying 

 the clover treatment, which might well over- 

 come the chlorotic action otherwise observed. 

 The soils on which the work just reviewed 

 was carried out are shallow and underlain 

 by chalk or similar impervious formations, so 

 that the tree roots can not penetrate very 

 deeply below the surface. It may be that the 

 ill effects of grass here observed would not 

 have been manifest had the soil been deeper, 

 and this may explain why it is that, in certain 

 parts of the United States and elsewhere, the 

 growing of grass in apple orchards is not 

 found to be harmful. The main interest lies 

 in the fact that these careful observers and 

 experimenters have been forced to the con- 

 clusion that on these soils grass is markedly 

 injurious to fruit trees (observations were 

 made which show the effect of grass on pears, 

 plums, and cherries to be very similar to that 

 so thoroughly studied in the case of apples), 

 and that this injury is undoubtedly due to 

 an active poison resulting, directly or in- 

 directly, from the growth of the grass. 



THE SUBURBAN ORCHARD 



By E. P. Powell 



WITH apples selling at three dollars to 

 four dollars a barrel in the orchard, 

 and at from five to seven dollars in 

 the city markets, it is time we had an apple 

 revival. There are very few new orchards 

 being set in the New England States or in 

 New York — excepting one or two counties 

 near Rochester. Nine out of ten of those 

 who do plant, deal with their trees as if 

 they suppose the apple tree to be capable of 

 entirely taking care of itself. The truth is that 

 there is not another of our common fruit 

 trees that is more subject to damage, or less 

 able to get on without intelligent care than 

 the apple. It needs specific knowledge and 

 specific attention; and this attention must 

 begin at the very selection of varieties. It 

 must cover the planting, the mulching, the 

 feeding, the trimming, and then the picking 

 of the fruit. 



We do not encroach on absolute verity 

 when we say that not one orchard out of 

 twenty is decently treated. Suckers are al- 

 lowed to grow, until they have devitalized 

 the fruit bearing limbs and tendered them 

 too brittle to bear the weight of fruit. These 

 should be regularly and constantly removed. 

 The feeding of an orchard is equally im- 

 portant. I have one tree that has netted me 

 one hundred dollars in four years. It has had 

 perfect food in full supply. I know of no 

 large orchard in better condition than those 

 used for sheep pastures. The sheep pick up 

 all the wormy fruit, and in that way very 

 greatly reduce the damage from insects. They 

 at the same time fertilize the soil and feed 

 the trees. A thoroughly decomposed compost 

 made of all sorts of litter, barnyard manure 

 and coal ashes makes an admirable orchard 

 dressing. 



There is a common mistake made that 

 spraying once or twice in the year is all 

 the care that the fruit needs. This happens 

 sometimes to be a fatal mistake. During 1907 

 our chief enemy has been an enormous de- 

 velopment of lice. This was true of half a 

 dozen or more States. They so weakened 

 the power of the foliage that its functions 

 could not be full filled in elaborating sap. 

 Trees everywhere reverted to the wild state, 

 and instead of giving us large, fine fruit gave 

 us clumps of knotted, crab-like apples. It 



Kimball Pipe Organs 



For Residences 



as well as churches. With the self-playing attachment 

 they become instruments for the amateur as 'well as 

 the professional organist. 



The 



Kimball Soloist 



is a new feature 



for residence 



pipe organs and 



is the world's most remarkable achievement 



in self- playing devices. This " Soloist " or 



solo-device may be built in any organ. For 



further particulars -write Pipe Organ Dept. 



W. W. Kimball Co. 



New York Office : 

 150 Fifth Ave. 



Chicago Office: 

 253 Wabash Ave. 



ITttiS 



Home Builders 



With One Year's Subscription to 



Keiths Magazine 



Q «ibe 



Plans for your new home with all the information you need to make home building easy and satisfactory. Keith's 

 Magazine is devoted to home building, decorating and furnishing. Each 64-page issue contains plans for seven practical, 

 artistic house designs, drawn by the best architects in the country. Keith's Magazine is filled from cover to cover with 

 helpful ideas and suggestions for home builders and home makers. It helps to make every dollar you put into your home 

 count for beauty, utility and lasting satisfaction. Subscribe now and we will send you our handsome book, showing 



42 Cottage and Bungalow Plans FREE 



This book gives you your choice of 42 inexpensive, up-to-date, model designs, with accurate descriptions, illustrations and 

 cost estimates at current prices. The book also tells how you can obtain Free Blue Print Plans. With Keith's Magazine 

 and its free information service, together with our books of designs, your building simply cannot go wrong, because 

 If Aitl-t'c 1MT **» deals in facts. It can be relied upon absolutely as the recognized authority for 



rvdlll S IVlagaZlllG home builders, and is the only publication of its kind in existence. 



One year' s subscription to Keith's, $1.50 with illustrated book of 42 Cottages and Bungalows FREE. 

 Book of designs for 74 Homes costing $3000 to $5000, and Keith's for I year, $2.00. Book of Designs for 72 Homes costing $5000 and up, and 

 Keith's for I year, $2.00. Book of 1 20 Beautiful Interiors and Keith's for I year, $1 .75. Single copies of Keith's at all news-stands, 1 5 cents. 



MAX L. KEITH, Lumber Exchange 534, MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. 



Artistic, Appropriate, Embossed 

 Steel Ceilings for all Kinds of Rooms 



From the massive and elaborate effects fre- 

 quently required in public and business 

 buildings, to the simpler and less obtrusive 

 designs suited for residence purposes, ample 

 selection is afforded in the wide range of 

 styles and patterns available in 



n 



BERGERS "CLASSIK 



The Most Complete Line of Artistic 

 Steel Ceilings In Existence 



You Should Have our Catalog on File 



Write for it to-day Ask for Catalog D64 



Send sketch and dimensions of room or 

 rooms to be covered and we will send 

 free suggestions and exhibition drawings of appropriate designs. Write us to-day. 



THE BERGER MFG. CO., Canton, O. 



New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Atlanta, 



San Francisco 



Specialties: Steel Ceilings, Roofing, Fireproofing, Steel Furniture, Etc. 



